Intro to Enamelling Workshop (Aug2021)

During this workshop you will be introduced to several enameling techniques including dry sift, liquid painting and wet pack and will create several colourful pieces of jewellery by the end of class!

This workshop is suitable for beginners. No experience necessary. If you have some familiarity with handling and filing metal or jewellery making, that would be useful but not essential.

In this 2-day workshop, you will:

• Be introduced to enameling for jewellery 
• Discover simple techniques to get started 
• Learn about the equipment and set up options including kiln and torch-firing
• Learn how to prepare your base metal, including annealing and doming
• Learn how to apply enamel powders and the 3 critical stages of firing
• Apply design and finishing techniques to achieve a range of luscious effects
• Discover specialty enamel techniques including crackle and liquid enamels and the effects you can achieve
• Learn how to finish your jewellery pieces so they are ready to wear.
  

A materials cost of $30 to cover your personal kit of metal and use of a wide range of enamels is payable on Saturday morning directly to Michelle.

Student numbers are limited to 6.

Program Outline:

Saturday 28 August 2021

• 10am start
• Intro to basic enameling concepts and equipment we will be using, including kiln and torch-firing set up
  
• Morning: Demonstration of dry sift techniques, surface design applications e.g. glass beads, thread, chunks as well as sgraffito and stencilling for effects
• Design your first jewellery piece
• Prepare your base metal - cut, anneal and dome 
• Select enamel colours and apply to your piece using dry sifters
• Fire counter enamels and front design layers
• Afternoon: Demonstrations of torch-firing techniques, use of specialty enamels e.g. crackle and liquid enamels
• Complete the enameling your first jewellery piece and finish with jumprings/hoops/necklace attachment so it's ready to wear home!
• 3pm finish

Sunday 29 August 2021

• 10am start
• Design your next jewellery ideas - pendants, earrings - from concepts and techniques presented
• Making time - preparing base metals, enameling, exploring the addition of different design features
• Discussion of enameling and troubleshooting firing problems
  
• Complete your Day 2 jewellery pieces and finish with jumprings/hoops/necklace attachment so they're ready to wear home!
  
• 3pm finish

You can expect to make 3 or 4 pieces of jewellery to finished stage, depending on your level of experience and confidence.

What Michelle will provide:

1. Demonstrations and tuition in the range of enameling techniques for jewellery - what it is, how you can do it at home simply and at low cost
2. A comprehensive handout with the key information that will be covered (you’re also encouraged to take your own notes and document the making of your designs for future reference)
3. All metalworking and firing equipment you will need to undertake the class
4. Instruction on the tools and materials required to start enameling in a home studio.

What to bring: 

• note pad and pen and smart phone for photographing and documenting the process
  
• your lunch (local deli also available for hot and cold meals only 5 mins walk away from the studio)
  
• a coffee mug
  
• closed in shoes and hair tie for long hair
• your $30 cash for workshop metals, findings (e.g. sterling silver jumprings and hoops for earrings, leather necklaces for pendants) and consumable materials (e.g. enamel powders, beads, threads).

Your tutor:

Michelle Walker is a visual artist, creativity coach and author. Michelle graduated from her Fine Art degree and has been making jewellery for 18 years. A local to the Nimbin area, Michelle converted the milking bales on her farm into her studio 13 years ago and has been silversmithing, enameling and painting there since.

Venue:

We are being hosted by Kylie Gartside (https://www.instagram.com/kyli...) at The Outpost in Lismore. It is a beautiful space with all the jewellery making equipment we might need. 

Parking:

Plenty of free parking is available outside our workshop venue along Wyrallah Road.